Starlight 39, Elan 40, or ?

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gregcope

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Hi All,

Any thoughts on the following - Sailing out of Chichester Hbr. Need something bigger, to basically Solent sailing, but aspirations to go further. Partner wants something "safe"/a large Galley (!)/Cockpit (to take guests)/lots of berths. I want Proper Nav table/Storage/Not too big/Not too drafty (Chi Hbr).

Starlight 39 - quite rare, stiff/good seakeeping, small inside, Shallow Wing Keel and advantage in Chi hbr;
Elan 40 - like the Sporty aspect, nice deck hardware, not the deep keel version, Double stern Cabins

Jeanueau tend not to have proper Chart Tables, Beneteaus tend to have small Galleys (Her Ladyship does not like Linear Galleys). Scanvigen tend to bit a bit expensive.

Budget no issue - We have lusted after a Ruster 42. Arcona 37/40 are nice, but rare.

Any owners have views/ideas?
 
Bit biased here but how about a Bowman 40? Great galley, wrap around and safe in any sea. Two double cabins and ability to sleep 4(friendly) souls in the saloon. saloon table that will seat 10 in reasonable comfort. Terrific sea going qualities, large cockpit but safe in all weathers.
Lived on ours for 12 years and she is as happy crossing an ocean as tootling up the river Dart. Only draws 4'6''.
A few on the market at the moment. Great boat!
 
gregcope said:
Hi All,

Any thoughts on the following - Sailing out of Chichester Hbr. Need something bigger, to basically Solent sailing, but aspirations to go further. Partner wants something "safe"/a large Galley (!)/Cockpit (to take guests)/lots of berths. I want Proper Nav table/Storage/Not too big/Not too drafty (Chi Hbr).

Starlight 39 - quite rare, stiff/good seakeeping, small inside, Shallow Wing Keel and advantage in Chi hbr;
Elan 40 - like the Sporty aspect, nice deck hardware, not the deep keel version, Double stern Cabins

Jeanueau tend not to have proper Chart Tables, Beneteaus tend to have small Galleys (Her Ladyship does not like Linear Galleys). Scanvigen tend to bit a bit expensive.

Budget no issue - We have lusted after a Ruster 42. Arcona 37/40 are nice, but rare.

Any owners have views/ideas?
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We have recently moved up from a Rival 34 to a (deep fin) Starlight 39 and are more than pleased with the new boat: she is surprisingly fast, even in light airs, but at the same time she is very well mannered and totally under control in everything we have so far encountered, which is up to F8.
To us she feels quite large inside: big saloon, lots of space in the kitchen, big forward cabin (version without forward heads), good aft cabin and a big chart table. There is ample stowage, we haven't succeeded in filling all the lockers for a 4-week cruise. Thanks to its double skinned construction filled with foam, the boat is very well insulated and as good as condensation-free.
The cockpit is very comfortable and secure, but feels relatively small, as it is to a large extent divided by a big wheel and the mainsheet traveller into a helmsman's section and a crew section. The cockpit lockers are positively cavernous. Deck layout is seamanlike and practical, first quality hardware.
The boat, one of the Rival-Bowman series, is finished to a high standard.
You see, I'm still wearing my rose-tinted spectacles.
I can't compare her to an Elan as I have never sailed one, but judging by a few boat show visits, I am pretty certain that the quality of build and finish are in a different league. So if you can find a Starlight 39, I have no reservation in saying: go for it.
 
I would definitely consider a starlight 39 although a lot will now be requiring work- still well worth it though as they are great boats.

A Bowman 40 Bowman 40 will also be a good choice, the saloon is huge and accommodates extra guests well. But if you are looking for a more modern take then consider a Dufour 38 classic Dufour 38 classic or the more performance orientated (but still long distance capable) standard draft (shallower)Dufour 40 Dufour 40
 
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gregcope said:
Hi All,

Any thoughts on the following - Sailing out of Chichester Hbr. Need something bigger, to basically Solent sailing, but aspirations to go further. Partner wants something "safe"/a large Galley (!)/Cockpit (to take guests)/lots of berths. I want Proper Nav table/Storage/Not too big/Not too drafty (Chi Hbr).

Starlight 39 - quite rare, stiff/good seakeeping, small inside, Shallow Wing Keel and advantage in Chi hbr;
Elan 40 - like the Sporty aspect, nice deck hardware, not the deep keel version, Double stern Cabins

Jeanueau tend not to have proper Chart Tables, Beneteaus tend to have small Galleys (Her Ladyship does not like Linear Galleys). Scanvigen tend to bit a bit expensive.

Budget no issue - We have lusted after a Ruster 42. Arcona 37/40 are nice, but rare.

Any owners have views/ideas?
Click to expand...

The Elan and the Starlight arent really similar boats. The Elan is very much a modern boat in the Benny mold and will sail really well if fairly light. The Starlight is in some ways an older style boat, much more a long distance cruiser with bigh storage but smaller accommodation and very good seakeeping. More in the style of the Swedish boats but much less woody.
 
jonic said:
I would definitely consider a starlight 39 although a lot will now be requiring work- still well worth it though as they are great boats.

A Bowman 40 Bowman 40 will also be a good choice, the saloon is huge and accommodates extra guests well. But if you are looking for a more modern take then consider a Dufour 38 classic Dufour 38 classic or the more performance orientated (but still long distance capable) standard draft (shallower)Dufour 40 Dufour 40
Click to expand...


Oh just seen your first mate does not like Linear galleys so the 38 classic will not work for you.
 
Am a tad biased but when I went through a similar thought process came up with a Dehler 39. The more I dug the more it becames Hodson's choice. If I was looking for a fast cruiser, better made than a BenBavJen, Dufour etc then the D39 would still tick all the boxes. Am still pleased with mine after 6 years. Still consider it significantly better than Arconas, Maxi or Xboats. Whenever I think of selling I look around and decide there is nothing out there to improve it.
Best of luck looking, have fun.
 
jonic said:
Oh just seen your first mate does not like Linear galleys so the 38 classic will not work for you.
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I sail on one quite often and I have to say I'm not very impressed. Huge high topsides that mean anyone of limited mobility (or a skirt) will need a ladder to get on board and there's nothing in the water forward, so it's a nightmare to manoever in a blow and slams in that foot high slop you get in Chi harbour. On the accommodation front, the one I go on has 3 double beds, so OK for couples, but not ideal for more than 3 singles.

I've never been on a Starlight 39, but based on my experience of a 35 in all conditions up to "I wish I'd taken up golf instead", the 39 would definitely figure on my shortlist.
 
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Raced a Starlight 35 in just such conditions once - a hiker on the headland called the coastguard because he thought we were in trouble. We were the only boat to make the upwind mark against 40kn gusting 50 and a spring tide, but not long after got a dose of common sense and retired. Last boat to do so.

No boat is perfect and that includes the Starlight. But it is one hell of a sea boat.
 
gregcope said:
I liked that - thanks. Never been in those conditions, but I suppose my "Should we call the Coastguard" conditions would be nearish.

Greg
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TBH, I'm not sure I have. I rather think drowning would be preferable to holes 1- 18, but there have definitely been a couple of times when immediate teleportation to the 19th hole would have got my vote :) Coln bar with 40kn on the nose and pissing with rain springs to mind.

The other side of the coin was a full moon night sail off the S Brittany coast at a steady 7kn on a sea so flat it didn't even try to spill my coffee - that one was magic.
 
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